Petunia plant named ‘Duefortpigem17’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Duefortpigem17’, characterized by its medium to compact plant size; mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; relatively large flowers with bright red purple-colored petals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEFORTPIGEM17’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duefortpigem17’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new moderately vigorous and early-flowering Petunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2014 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number TT13-002214-006, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number TT12-000219-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duefortpigem17’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duefortpigem17’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Medium to compact plant size, mounding to trailing plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Relatively large flowers with bright red purple-colored         petals.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant size as plants of the new Petunia are more compact than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have darker red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in plant size as plants of the new Petunia are not as compact or vigorous as plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia×hybrida ‘Sunrovein’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,468. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunrovein’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact and have shorter         internodes than plants of ‘Sunrovein’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flower earlier than plants of         ‘Sunrovein’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Sunrovein’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunrovein’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Sunrovein’ have lighter red purple-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duefortpigem17’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Duefortpigem17’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number TT13-002214-006,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number TT12-000219-001,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Medium to compact plant size,             mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit             with about seven to nine lateral branches developing after             pinching; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 70 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 37 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.7 mm. Diameter: About 2.6 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 11 to 15 open flowers and flower buds per lateral             branch and about 99 to 135 flowers developing per plant;             flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,             plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to six             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 186A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.7 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 2.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.7 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rippled,             glabrous. Throat texture: Rippled, glabrous. Tube texture:             Rippled, pubescent.         -   Color.—Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to             N74A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 72C.             Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74B;             venation, close to 61A; color becoming closer to N81B with             development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to N74C; venation, close to 71A. Flower throat: Close to             N77B; venation, close to N79B. Flower tube: Close to N78D;             venation, close to 60C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a             star-shaped calyx. Sepal length: About 1.9 cm. Sepal width:             About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Oblong. Sepal apex: Rounded. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close             to 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.5 cm. Filament color: Close to             157D. Anther length: About 1.8 mm. Anther shape: Ovate.             Anther color: Close to 8D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 11C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style             color: Close to 144C. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color:             Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close to N144C. Seeds and             fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on             plants of the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Duefortpigem17’ as illustrated and described. 